Is there a difference between thanks and thank you?

Margot: What is the difference between ” thanks “and ” thank you “?
I know it’s a strange question, but i’m learning english and i would want to know if there is a difference between ( for example, if one is more informal than the second ) :
thanks and thank you
thanks so much and thank you very much
Is it possible to say ” thankS you ? ”

Ps : Have i made mistakes ? If yes, can you correct me, pleeease ???

Answers and Views:

Answer by OMG! Halo Owns?
You say thank you because you are polite. You just say thanks then you walk away, because it was quick and you don’t want to take time to thank them well enough.

Answer by Dynamite
They mean the same thing. It is not correct to say thankS you.

Answer by ignant_slob
“Thanks” is informal. “Thank you” is formal. “Thanks you” is what people with a lisp say.

Answer by Feyi A
thank you is usually more formal than thanks. and no, you cant say ‘thanks you’

Answer by Broken wings
Thanks you is not proper etiquette it’s considered slang.Usually one says “thank you”, “thank you very much”, or “thanks”

Answer by SimpleGirl
They are both correct to say to express gratitude, “thank you” is somewhat more formal, however “thanks” is still acceptable in most situations. Also “ThankS you” is not used.
Thanks so much and thank you very much are the same, one is not more formal than the other.
I don’t see any mistakes, cheers 🙂

Answer by SGTPrimo
I think “thank you” is more sincere and more formal.
“Thanks” is less formal.
It is incorrect to say “thanks you”

Answer by jill
upbringing is the difference and yes thanks is much more informal, actually bordering on laziness. Thank you is much nicer to hear.

Answer by Ashley
Thank you is more sincere, you would say this to someone that says or does something that really means something to you.

Thanks is more of something you would say to a stranger that is walking out a door and they hang onto the door long enough for you to grab it as you are walking in.

Answer by caitlin danielle
thank you– more formal
thanks– informal

thanks so much/thank you very much– formal.
basically: i would say “thank you”/”thank you very much”/”thanks so much” to a boss
i would never really say “thanks” just because it comes off as “hay we’re buddies” rather than co-workers.

does that make sense?

and “thanks you”– it just doesnt flow.
im not an english major so i dont know if it is grammatically wrong but its all based on how the sentence sounds coming out of your mouth.

SO: when talking to friends, “thanks” is fine.
but if its someone you dont know/are meeting for the first time, a coworker/boss, someone important: stick to “thank you”/”thank you very much”/”thanks so much”

just adding the extra word(s) at the end of “thank” makes a difference (:

Answer by little lady
thank you is more formal. it’s something you say when somebody does a huuuuge favor for you or gets you a really awesome present. still, it doesn’t sound weird to say thank you to somebody serving your food or picking up your pencil.

saying “thanks” is more of a way of acknowledging a small action such as handing you a pamphlet or holding open the door. at the same time, however, you can use this with the right tone to give it the same meaning as “thank you.” “thanks, a lot” with the emphasis on “lot” is an expression used to be sarcastic when somebody doesn’t help you when you need it or something.

so both kinda mean something different. it’s like saying “love ya” compaired to “i love you.”